Job joy for all our dental students

PICTURED (from left) are Joan Griffiths, deputy principal at The Oldham College; Helen Capewell, Rebecca Whitehead, Lauren Diggle, Jake Cowan, Robyn Winn, Jenna Brown, Sophie Mitchell, Husna Begum, Emma Cameron, Gail Richards, chief executive of NHS Oldham; and Angela Bracewell, dental practice manager and cadet mentor at Moorside Medical Centre.

A PIONEERING dental nurse cadet scheme has resulted in every graduate securing a job.

The latest group of 16 Oldham College students have now started work, taking the total number of success stories to 43.

Jenna Brown is one of the successful cadets and is now working at M Ahmad Dental Practice at Moorside Medical Centre.

She said: “I wanted a challenging career in a health-care setting with the opportunity for career development.

“The dental cadetship has given me just that and my employers have offered me a permanent position in the team which is great.”

Local dentist Terry Lewis said: “The scheme not only benefits the students, by providing them with valuable skills and a rewarding career, but also dental practices by providing us with a highly-trained work force.

“This is essential in helping us to meet dental-care needs in our community.”

Julie Jones, scheme co-ordinator from Oldham Community Health Services (part of NHS Oldham), said: “It’s fantastic to see another group of students successfully complete the scheme. The excellent employment rate is testament to successful partnership working and proves how much highly-trained dental nurses are in demand.”

Tony Spencer, head of business development services at The Oldham College, added: “The scheme is a great example of the college’s aim to produce young professionals.

“It delivers a modern, advanced and technical class of apprentices.”

The students were presented with achievement certificates by Joan Griffiths, Oldham College’s deputy principal, and Gail Richards, chief executive of NHS Oldham.

The award-winning scheme was launched in 2004 as a pioneering partnership between The Oldham College and the oral health improvement team from Oldham Community Health Services.

Anyone who is interested in finding out more about future schemes can contact Liz Rowlands at Oldham College on 0161- 785 4330 or Julie Jones, scheme co-ordinator, on 0161-633 4958.